Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-28
A GOOD STARTER.
The Volunteer Proves Her
Fine Qualities.
SHE DEFEATS THE VISITOR.
"A Light Wind at the Start-Patri-
otic Demonstrations at
the Finish.

| New YORK, September 27.-The Of
hcial signal for the yachts to make
ready was fired at 1922. Ten min
utes later the Thistle crossed the line.
closely followed by the Volunteer.
When tie contestants reached the
vicinity OF the starting line there were
over two hundred yachts and steam
boats about, and thousands of people
were straining for glimpse at the
race. But the yachts could be only
dimly seen because of the heavy mist.
At noon there was breeze of about
eight miles an hour.
| HOW THEY APPEARED.
Both yachts were close-hauled on the
port tack, each carrying main and
club topsails, small jib top-sails and
jib stay-sails. The Thistle's lead was
small, but she seemed to move most
rapidly in the zephyr. The little
wind blowing was quite variable,
| veering to the west.
THE VOLUNTEER FAvORITE
There was considerable betting on
the race, but it was governed by pa
triotism in most every case. Odds
ranging from 10 to 8 down to 2 to in
favor of the Volunteer.
The tickle god of wind seemed dis
inclined to favor the rival yachts this
morning with any but light breezes,
and the public disappointment was
fully as manifest as public interest
has been in what was to be the first
of three races between the Scotch
yacht Thistle and the American Yacht
Volunteer, for the possession of the
American cup. The last finishing
touches have been put on the yachts
and everything superfuous removed
from both racers, even to private dun-s
mage of the crew. The conditions
were extremely favorable to the Scotch
cutter.
The Yankee keeled along grace
fully, making good time and increas-
ing her lead. There was magnificent
sailing. The steam barges behind
the racers stretched in almost un-
broken line from shore to shore, MAX
ing the finest picture ever seen on the
bay Of New York. AS the Volunteer
approached Fort Wadsworth great
cheer went up from the throats of
thousands of spectators. The fleet
took up the refrain and gave her
rousing send-off. She was going very
fast. The Thistle had good full head,
but her sails fails to draw like the
| Volunteers. Following the racers
came great fleet of excursionists.
| The spectators were unanimous in
crediting the Yankees long lead to
the superior seamanship in holding to
the first tack and catching the breeze
off shore.
A FATAL ERROR
The official time OF the Thistle
crossing the line was II :35, and the
Volunteer II :36. The Thistle at once
tackled TO starboard, heading for Long
Island. The short result was that she
lost her wind entirely while the Yam
kee caught the light air. At IL "A the
Thistle seemed motionless. A few
minutes later she began to move
slowly. The Volunteer had in the
meantime captured lead of three
cable lengths. At l AS the Volunteer
was about a mile ahead. The wind
freshened and blew about seven miles
an hour, and in half-hour increased
to nine knots. At 2:10 the Thistle
gained suddenly, and in few minutes
the yachts were abreast. At 2:25
the Volunteer rounded Spit Buoy and
the Thistle turned Buoy 10 few
minutes later.
THE YANKEE GAINS.
At 2:43 the Volunteer turned Buoy
and was flying before the wind. The
tacking. Hundreds Of excursion boats
were between the yachts.
At 3 03 the Thistle passed Buoy 5.
She was completely surrounded by
little boats and was in a wash. The
Volunteer was two miles ahead.
At 800 both yachts were on the
starboard tack. They will have to
make short-leg to turn the lightship.
The wind was southeast and ten mill
an hour.
At 334 P. NJ. the Volunteer had
four hours in which to 90 over the re-
manning twenty miles of the course.
THE RESULT ASSURED.
HIGHLANDS, go P. M.-The Volun-
teer is approaching Point of Hook.
She is about eighteen minutes ahead.
The Thistle is fully three miles behind.
Fort WADswoRTH, September 27.-5
p. M.-The race will probably be fin
ished by 5 80 o'clock, if no accident
occurs. The winds hold strong, and if
any change is occurring it is in the di-
rection of more wind.
VICTORY rs OURS.
New YoRK, September 27.-The
Volunteer won, crossing the line at
5 :32 p. NJ. The scenes of patriotic en-
thusiasm were indescribable.